Process of making rugs from cabbage-palmetto fiber



Patented Oct. 22, 1929 PATENT? OFFICE ANNIE E. MGLEAN, F SARASOTA, FLORIDA PROCESS OF MAKING BUGS FROM CABBAGE-PALMETTO FIBER No Drawing. Application filed July 20,

This invention relates to the making of textile fabrics and particularly to the for1nation of textile fabrics from the fiber of cabbage palmetto.

The general object of the invention is to provide a process whereby the fiber which, in the cabbage palmetto, is found between the heart of the tree and the bark thereof, may be so treated as to produce a fiber capable 0 of being woven into textile fabrics such as rugs and the like.

Another object is to provide a process whereby the fibers from the leaves of the cabbage palmetto may be used for forming relatively coarse textile fabrics.

In the cabbage palmetto tree between the heart and the bark thereof, there is a layer of relatively long fibers interspersed with coarse, stiff and brittle fibers having the character of long but very slender twigs. To the best of my knowledge and belief, this fiber has never been used for any purpose and I have discovered that when properly treated,

this fiber may be used for the formation of textile fabrics and that the fibers in the leaves of cabbage palmetto when properly treated may also be used for textile fabrics of a coarse quality.

In the process of forming this new material the tree, which should be soaking wet when put in a drying room or soaked by steaming until the bark is loosened and then allowed to cure itself in a dry warm place. The bark which is loosened by this treatment is then as readily cut off or otherwise removed from the tree trunk, disclosing the layer of fiber which is disposed between the bark and the heart of the tree. The fiber is then stripped from the bark and is cleaned as cotton is cleaned in a cotton mill to remove any foreign substances and to remove the long relatively coarse stick-like fibers before referred to.

After the fiber has been cleaned, oil is applied thereto for softening the fiber and making it smooth. Any desired oil may be used but preferably olive or linseedoil to thus give the fiber a soft and silky appearance.

If the fiber is to be dyed with soft tones or shades the fiber should be bleached before the oil is applied thereto. After the fiber is 1926. Serial No. 123,794.

bleached, assuming that this is requisite, and oiled, the fiber is dyed any desired color or combination of colors and then spun into thread of any desired ply for fine rugs or twisted into cord for coarse or heavy rugs.

The thread or cord so formed may then be 5 woven into textile fabric in the usual manner or the cords may be disposed against each other and sewed together to form a rug.

Rugs made of this material as heretofore described have a very good appearance, are relatively soft and flexible, take dye very well, and wear well. It will be understood that the fiber from the leaves of the cabbage palmetto may also be treated in the same manner for making relatively coarse threads or cords.

I claim A process of forming textile fiber from the cabbage palmetto consisting in wetting the trunk of the tree to cause the bark to become readily removable, then drying the trunk, removing the bark and the fibrous layer inside the bark, stripping the fiber from the bark, and cleaning, bleaching and oiling the fiber to thereby soften it to render it fit for spinning.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ANNIE E. MOLEAN. 

